Blue skies are the Only Thing in the Sky

Joel Fagliano writes in his introduction to this grid that Rebecca Goldstein is a research scientist living in the Bay Area with her wife, Ariela Perlman, who is an educational therapist and a PhD candidate.

Ariela is working on her first puzzle for The New York Times and Rebecca is working on her 18th. Rebecca got started with crossword construction after Ariela (strongly) suggested she find a hobby to fill her newfound time back in May of 2020. Ariela surprised me with a 40th birthday gift as a gift for my birthday.”

I really enjoy looking at this puzzle. It first struck me as a shruggie and then as a smiling lightbulb as the centerpiece. When I saw the correct image, I grinned with pleasure. Multiple “aha” moments can be found in this solve, and the whole thing has a lot of personality.

At 93-Across, the theme is revealed in a main revealer entry. It is mentioned in four clues, at 39 across, 65 across, 104 across, and 108 across. By solving 93-Across, the grid art will also become more visible.

Because all of these clues build on one another, I had to work through quite a bit of the puzzle before gathering enough letters to make some deductions. It was still not immediately apparent to me what the theme was because the clues orbiting 93-Across were presented so cleverly.

[Neighborhood viewed from a 93-Across? ], the 39-Across solves to SMALL TOWN, consistent with 65-Across, and the dwelling seen from 93-Across? : TINY HOUSE. (Are we in Sim City? What’s next, a center for ants?)

From 93-Across, [Girl? ], 104-Across, is a WEE LASS; 108-Across, [Vehicle seen from a 93-Across], is a MINI VAN. As I solve them, I’m still thinking about what makes something shrink from ground level.

As a result, I was able to solve 93-Across, [Whimsical method of transportation depicted in the puzzle grid]. Oh! HOT AIR BALLOON, that’s what it is. Now I see the grid art in a different light.

Balloons take up 30-82-Across, and black boxes around 107-, 112- and 117-Across outline their baskets. That’s why the puzzle’s title is “Nothing but Blue Skies.”

Also, four entries in the puzzle complement the theme so well that they can’t be coincidental – 23 across, 101 across, and 4 down.

At 23-Across, [Line before takeoff], the clue resides directly above the balloon, and therefore solves to UP UP AND AWAY.

At 101-Across, the [Pull all the strings] string runs directly under HOT AIR BALLOON. There is a balloon scene in “The Wizard of Oz” that immediately comes to mind.

In the puzzle, the longest down entry is 4D, [Refuse to sully oneself] which solves to BLOWIN IN THE WIND, and 14D, [Take the high road] which solves to TAKE THE HIGH ROAD. There are so many sublime touches in this puzzle that I may have missed more than I noticed.

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19A: In today’s column, I illustrated the puzzle’s theme using an example of this art form. Someone has probably already done it. It solves to MACARONI ART when pasta is cast.

27, A: The clue denotes [Detector of lies, informally], referring to BS METER, a system that prevents charlatans and shams from operating.

43A: Fun cinema trivia: Home Alone is the movie in which the Wet Bandits are scammed by a kindergartener.

56A: This [Helpful toehold for a French learner] is not so useful that it may be easily guessed, as with “merci” and “very well.” COGNATE describes words that are similar in two languages, up until they are pronounced differently.

5D: For [Use a pen, say], you have a few options. Write? Corral? Who loaded the bases when you switched pitchers? No, this refers to an e-cigarette that is used for vaping.

77D: In this clue, the Spanish term refers to an email signature. It can be used to convey a warm greeting as well as a hug. This puzzle is about a BESO, or a kiss as the counterpart to a hug.

81D: Goal horn! The [Ice belt?] refers to hockey and not a fight: it’s a snap shot.

96D: At first, I wondered if [Stone for some ear gauges] had a typo – “ear” for “car.” Regardless, this clue didn’t make sense.

As a result of crossing letters, I got the answer, AGATE, and looked it up. Circular plugs made of various materials are used to stretch earlobes since ancient times.

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Blue skies are becoming increasingly rare in some regions due to air pollution and urban smog. This natural beauty can only be preserved by protecting the atmosphere.

A small act of reducing emissions, planting trees, and advocating for cleaner energy may go a long way in ensuring that future generations will continue to enjoy “blue skies forever.”

Clear weather isn’t just about clear skies, it’s a metaphor for life without obstacles. When the skies are blue, we can move forward with hope.

Sunny days are good for your mood. Sky blues ground us while lifting our spirits, connecting us with the larger world.

Blue skies are more than just a visual delight; they’re a universal language of hope, joy, and possibility. Whether you see them as a metaphor for optimism or a natural wonder, they remind us of the beauty and clarity that life can offer.

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